Museum of Tolerance

This was my second time coming here,I enjoyed it, I'm glad I was able to bring my teenager to experience this for the first time. It's a beautiful experience, an imaginable thing at that. We also did the Anne Frank it was a beautiful tribute.

The museum honors the Holocaust as well addressing current issues around justice including policing, climate change, and other relevant issues. The permanent exhibit that walks through the conditions and complacency and indifference that allowed for the rise of the Nazi regime is well curated.

Very well done tour and artifacts from the Jewish perspective of WWII. I went on a school field trip, and it went very well.

We got a little lost, because of lack of directional signs and no maps. After going through the Holocaust exhibit, we were emotionally overwhelmed and needed to sit. We had trouble finding a peaceful place to sit, since of the very loud school students. Some areas were hot and then were cold temperatures. We thought there was going to see a more educational diversity, but it was all about the Jewish people during World War II.

You have to reserve a time slot. I recommend this museum 1000%. I learned so much more about the holocaust and even got to hear a survivor speak around 1pm. It is a great way to learn history and really put yourself in the shoes of the Jews who suffered. There is a wall of clothes that represents the 1.5 million children who died. I definitely felt the experience. They have an amazing tour that moves along to inform you. Underground parking as well. I went on a Sunday.

A very compelling experience. The volunteers were very polite and helpful. The only complaint was when the school field trips came through. The tour guide cut right in front of us and was literally pointing over my head as the tour gathered around. We were pushed out of the way. This happened twice by two different groups.

The electrician was on time, honest, and completed the work I had for him in an hour. Thrilled with the service received. Also, the charge was exactly as quoted, not a cent more. I can’t wait to use this company again in the future!

Though I learned of this growing up , being in a beautiful building with all of the history gathered in one place was amazing, educational, and sad. Also, I'm a bit afraid because history repeats itself, and it was horrific what the Jewish people were put through. The staff were friendly and the guides knowledgeable.

Bring your tissues to the Museum of Tolerance! This museum is so interactive. There are multiple exhibits inside the museum. They also have speakers on some days so you get to hear first hand from survivors or children of survivors. Definitely recommend visiting the Museum of Tolerance.

Come witness proof of the Holocaust and other genocides. Wonderfully full of visuals and guides who explain atrocities taking place world-wide to school age children. It's fantastic to see school buses parked outside knowing children are learning the truth about history and the world. But it's not just a place for youngsters--please come and witness for yourself! Everyone is welcome. :) Everyone who comes here is touched by the humanity of the oppressed.

A planned visit to this important museum was long overdue. Having been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., the Holocaust Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London, as well as the Deportation Martyrs Memorial in Paris, and viewing numerous films and documentaries, I was familiar on the subject matter. However, the visit here greatly exceeded our expectations. We chose to visit on a Sunday, as they are open a bit longer. The light traffic, and getting there just before opening, was a smart move. Security here is understandable much higher than most places. Free parking is underground . We had 10:30am tickets, but after a security screening, we were allowed in early. The desk agent and the docents were all very informative and friendly. They do sell out often, so it is recommended you book the timed entry tickets online. They offer student & senior discounts. Give yourself plenty of time, if wanting to attend any special events. We spent the entire day; it was so worth it. Manage your time. DO NOT be late for the speakers, or films. It is just plain rude. There are floor map panels on the wall by the elevators, but a small brochure map of the various floors would be a helpful handout (hint-hint). The bottom floor has the main Holocaust exhibit. It features audio/visual dioramas that are on a timed rotation. You move thru a layout like maze, in a kind of chronology, of what led to the final solution. At the start, you take a small card that's inserted into a kiosk telling the story of a person imprisoned in a concentration camp. At the end, you insert the card and it then gives you a printout, telling what happed to them. (Unfortunately, my printer was not working, it just took the card.) Another in our group picked a better kiosk and got his printed results. Oh well. The upper floor houses the Anne Frank exhibit, and a small auditorium for speakers. They were experiencing some technical issues, so the video monitors were blank. Photos, artifacts, letters, and other displays were still good. The quilted wall is well done, and significant in numbers. We also wanted to hear the speaker/survivor. So, we luckily found the door to the auditorium, and got upfront seating. 98-year-old Ella was riveting. No notes, all done by memory. She recalled gut wrenching events with clarity, and was stoic when describing very personal loss. The audience and myself, were emotionally affected by her testimony. My friend's Father was an American Soldier who helped liberate Dachau. After, he spoke with Ella, and took a picture with her. Lastly, there was a special screening of the 2023 documentary "Unbroken," about seven siblings who were in hiding on a farm in Germany during the War. The large theater on the main floor was beautiful and had comfortable seating. Their escape and fateful trip to the U.S, and a heartwarming reunion was so moving and inspirational. A Q&A with the director, Beth Lane, (who's mom was the youngest daughter) was also hosted by dignitaries from several countries. The gift store was closed by the time we left, but you can buy online. We went on Jan 26th, so fortunate for the many events scheduled. If you plan to go on a weekday, you may have to deal with tours of grade-schoolers, so there that. We did not have enough time, so we skipped the Social Lab. You seriously must go!

Wonderful and interactive museum on such an important topic that should never be overlooked or forgotten. I wish I had more time to see all the exhibits in their entirety but they close at 5p on Sundays. I was lucky enough to come in time to watch a speaker, a 99 year old man who was a German Jew and was flown out to Holland to escape persecution. After that I went through the Holocaust walk-through session which is spaced out for smaller groups and describes the lead up and experiences of the Jews. Then I went through the Anne Frank exhibit which was very informative and actually displayed real pages from her (second) diary - amazing to see her handwriting on those pages.

Visiting this museum was a wonderful experience. staff is friendly and helpful. They provide you with enough information prior to you starting you exhibits. You'll get emotionally overwhelmed when visiting. Well at least I did. Each exhibit carved out in detail what it was like in those times. Fully thought out and full on information. They have skills labs that actively allows you to participate and make this museum more immersive. Def worth checking out if you are in the area!

I enjoy every visit here. Especially when there is a holocaust survivor. So much information to absorb. My mom loves the Anne Frank immersive exhibit, it is on her life and legacy. Enjoy an afternoon here, beat the heat and go to the museum of Tolerance.

Important: Get instruction from the staff on how to experience the museum. They sent me down by myself to see it. But the key is finding a nondescript double door with a timer above it. Once inside, you are supposed to watch videos. But none of the screens were on and it was underwhelming and frustrating. BETTER IDEA: Go to the Holocaust Museum instead which is 15 minutes away and that gets a hearty five stars! It has an AI interview with a survivor and a free audio tour. I was VERY moved, informed and challenged by the HM. It also had a significant amount of artifacts. So I give the MOT a generous two stars.

Had the best time visiting this museum. Learned about the holocaust and also details on Anne Franks life. The museum did a fantastic job bringing the audience back to a horrible time in history. The employees were amazing and knowledgeable. Great experience!

One of the best immersive museums I have ever been to. I walked away with a newfound awareness, empathy and understanding through this experience.

The parking staff needs a serious attitude adjustment. I arrived an hour before the museum opened and immediately the curly haired girl looked at me suspiciously and asked did I work there and why I was there. When I said I was just early she acted liked it was some kind of crime to sit in a parking lot for an hour to a place I bought a ticket for when all the streets are covered in no parking signs and the website even says to park in the structure. No polite, sorry we don't open the lot until 9:30. Just straight up rude. As for the museum itself, if I had known that it was 99% watching short clips in dark rooms I probably wouldn't have gone. There wasn't much to look at in terms of artifacts. The Anne Frank exhibit again wasn't really worth it. Also the gift shop was closed "until further notice" according to the staff. The elderly British(?) lady leading the tour was nice though.

Beautiful place to hang out, have fun, as well as enjoy the museum itself. They have very informative, entertaining and engaging events throughout the year. Came here for a symposium, or exhibit. I've attended numerous events here and look forward to other events. Check their website for additional information and upcoming events. You won't be disappointed. I recommend this venue.

Our school came to visit and the staff was welcoming. They have a limited number of free parking under the museum in the parking structure. The security guy did check our trunk, one of their procedures. The elevator in the parking structure took us up to the museum. The museum opens at 10am. When we got to the museum they checked us in. There are metal detectors and they check your bags for security purposes. We were escorted upstairs where we were given pencils and a Tolerance Explorer Notebook. One of the employees spoke to the students about the meaning tolerance and there was an educational video on the Holocaust. There were also little classes on Bullying and artifacts from the Holocaust. The students enjoyed looking at the artifacts and sorting them by categories of: bystanders, perpetrators, victims, and allies.

What a great place to visit, walked out a different person after learning so much!! Staff was friendly and informative. I will be back soon to bring my kids when they are old enough, I truly feel like everyone should visit

This is a great museum. I did visit it for one of my college courses. It was very informative and impressive. Kanye could use a visit. Or any other holocaust deniers. It is a very serious topic done well.

I can't rave this place enough! I learned so much and I've never been to a museum like this. We spent over 2.5 hours here and we're learning the whole time! Parking was also a breeze and free in their underground garage. There is a security check where they check your bags and you go through a metal detector. The museum features a lot of videos and replicas to stimulate life during the time. They also have artifacts featured as well. There's a large spiral hallway that takes you from floor to floor and on it features pictures of survivors and a brief story about them. They also had a guest speaker who was a survivor of the concentration camps. We unfortunately missed that as we lot track of time but I'm sure it was spectacular! Overall, definitely check this place out.

I have never been to a more emotionally impactful museum in my life. I went here years ago when I was in middle school. I didn't fully grasp the the devastating circumstances around the holocaust to the extent that I should have and I was determined to be a cool kid and not cry. I failed miserably and cried throughout the museum as I began to have an empathetic grasp of the horrors of history in front of my face. This museum has such an impactful affect because it made me truly understand in a physical sense how many people died and gave me more of an ability to imagine what people went through. The most heartbreaking but poignant part is the hallway full of shoes from people who were in concentration camps. There isn't another museum on the planet that I can recommend more highly and it truly accomplishes what it sets out to teach people.

UNFORGETTABLE!!!! I recommend everyone to visit this museum at least once! Not only was my day memorable but an incredible educational experience. In addition, parking is spacious! Due to security reasons, the officer checks your drivers licenses and trunk before telling you where to park! I then bought tickets at the front desk and with the student discount it came out to $11.50 for the Main Museum experience whereas the Anne exhibit is $12.50, which does not include the Main Museum experience. They have a Holocaust Speaker every day and I was extremely fortunate to be able to sit among Martha Sternbach and listen to her experience and answered people's questions!! Just a heads up though, many children are present on weekdays so it can be a bit crowded but there are always people around to help guide you! Roaming around was fantastic and I loved how their exhibits were interactive and intertwined with the modern era in terms of hate, social media, history, and genocide. The museum also challenged visitors to confront their own closely-held assumptions and use what they learned from the museum to create responsibility amongst themselves to change. This museum is different and creative in trying to invoke a new kind of meaning to future generations. I'll hopefully come back to listen to a testimony of a former white supremacist and go to Anne Frank Exhibit.

I've lived in LA for 25+ years and have had a visit here on my list forever. Don't just pass that exit on the 10 and wonder what it is...stop in for a few hours of knowledge. A sobering but important message to understand how intolerance, pent up anger and controlled communication can lead to human suffering. The Holocaust section is created in a unique way with timed, small groups being led by an automated story-telling which combines multi-media with audio/lighting that leads you to the next step.

I debated whether to leave this review but i think it's worth mentioning. I visited this museum more than 10 years ago. It was a poignant experience. Now I have a young teen son who I waited to reach the right age to have him experience this museum. He was looking forward to learning about this part of history because it's been referenced more frequently in recent current events. While the message and the lessons hit him hard, and while I know he will be reflecting on those history lessons for years to come, it was the attitude of the volunteers that were left to be desired. Aside from a young woman at the end of the holocaust portion and the Anne Frank guide, we encountered several other women who were nothing short of inappropriate. My son was already physically and emotionally ill. He had quietly asked me if we could leave after being there for about 2 hours. He was about to have a breakdown. But each of these women came up to us at separate times, either stood in my path or came up very close ( I initially thought there was a problem) and in a louder than usual tone told us a survivor was speaking and would we like to stay or that we should stay. There was nothing inviting about their tone. It was more like a we "should" stay. And look, I can fully understand how rare of an opportunity that would've been but my son needed to leave. I'm not about to announce all that publicly so i said we needed to go. All 3 of these women either gave me a nasty look and/or repeated what I said in a sarcastic and judging tone: "OH you need to LEAVE...right OKAY we get it". Honestly the only thing missing was an eye roll from them. I know a passive aggressive tone when I hear one. And that was most definitely it. In the car ride home my son asked if those women were upset we didn't stay. He also told me he was thankful we left when we did because he wasn't sure he could take much more. So, MOT - be mindful that while your message is most definitely important, some attendees who are learning it for the first time do deserve some sensitivity. You got the horror across - no need to beat them over the head with it if they already grasped it

A very interesting place. Spent over 3 hours with a friend. I recommenend it to anyone who loves cinema.

Of all the museums I've been to on the Holocaust, this was definitely one of the most unique. The journey through the exhibit, with videos and audios guiding you through different stages of the rise of the Nazis and actions of the Holocaust, was incredibly well done. I've never seen a museum create an exhibit along these lines, and despite knowing the history and nearly all of the information the museum provided, I still felt engaged by the uniqueness of the format of the exhibit. The ancillary exhibits on the world today as well as Anne Frank were equally well done. Excellent museum!

Hermosa Beach Chief of Police Paul LeBaron led about a dozen of us Hermosa Beach Museum Volunteer Docents on a 5-hour private tour of the Museum of Tolerance, an organization with which the Chief has had a relationship for over 20 years! In addition to that, he requires all of his officers to take part in the learning activities at the MOT. If every Police Chief in every city required that of all of their officers policing would be much improved and it would be a better, more just world. Thank you Chief LeBaron, and thank you to the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance. It was a life lesson taking the tour! I urge everyone to make a visit!

A really excellent and poignant experience that left me in tears. This museum is a must-visit for anyone who wants to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust. The seventy-minute Holocaust exhibit begins with you choosing a card with a Jewish child whose fate you will discover at the end of the exhibit; then, the exhibit guides you past various carefully constructed displays and through replicas of a concentration camp gate and a gas chamber. It was the most effective museum experience that I've ever had, and I was moved to tears. This exhibit was definitely the best part of the museum. The Anne Frank exhibit was also excellent, but we didn't get to explore it as thoroughly as we wanted because the museum closes at 3 pm on weekdays. The Social Lab exhibit was also fascinating; I particularly enjoyed the area that facilitates a sit-down and discussion experience regarding various social issues with other visitors. It was very unique, and the presentation was balanced and thought-provoking. There are some areas of the museum that I thought were less effective. The museum is very high-tech, which is excellent in some ways, but there are also displays wherein you simply read information on a touchscreen; for those, I felt like I was reading a Wiki page on an iPad rather than having an immersive museum experience. There were also some areas, particularly in the Holocaust exhibit, where it was difficult to determine the "flow"; sometimes we were turning around and staring in different directions because we didn't know where to go. I wish there were arrows on the ground or some more concrete signs directing visitors where to move. Some important notes: this is not a week-long museum. It is open only three days a week, and on Thursdays and Fridays, it closes at 3 pm, so be sure to come early so you can see everything! Many of the exhibits are based in videos that go on for specific durations, so it's hard to do a quick walk through. There is free parking in the connected underground garage, which I appreciated. In summation, I found some aspects of this museum to be less than ideal--the focus on scrolling through touchscreens and the difficulty in determining the flow of some exhibits detracted from the experience for me. However, where this museum gets it right, it REALLY gets things right. I've never had a more emotionally affecting and enlightening museum experience, and it was absolutely worth the price of admission.

Favorite museum. The Anne Frank exhibit is both heartbreaking and so informative. The place is beautiful and clean. They have speakers usually around 1pm and the times I've been they have Holocaust survivors. There's underground parking. Bathrooms are clean. Gift shop has many books that are very interesting. There's another gift shop on the fourth floor that has so many trinkets that's worth a look.

TLDR TIPS: Park in the underground garage / do the Holocaust exhibit first, by 3:30PM / don't leave the Holocaust exhibit without watching the final video (outside the exhibit doors). PARKING: They have a huge underground garage. Parking is free. They had a security guard posted at the entrance. They will check your trunk (urge to make inappropriate joke resisted given the sensitive context). They also notify you that you have to go through security with a metal detector to get inside the museum. I appreciated this as I have pepper spray on my keys and was able to take it off in advance. HOLOCAUST EXHIBIT: This is their main exhibit. Note that the latest entrance is 3:30PM since it takes a long time to go through the entire thing (and the museum closes at 5PM). I recommend doing this first due to the time constraints. This is their most important exhibit so you don't want to miss it. Essentially, it is a heavily scripted walkthrough experience. Doors open and a small group of people goes in (the entry is timed in short increments). You are guided to each new area by light and sound. There are a lot of visuals (photos and videos) and narration, spotlighting certain chronological story elements. Many of the areas have available stools so you don't necessarily need to stand the entire time. I don't want to give away too many elements but I thought it was very well done--varied in its approaches and engaging. However, I thought the exhibit had one MAJOR flaw. The last room of the exhibit tells several horrific stories from the camps. At the end, there is a prayer or song of some sort along with a still photo. At this point, it's unclear whether the exhibit has ended or is ongoing. People started walking out through the doors which signify the official end of the exhibit and lead you back into the museum. There is another small area just outside the doors, mostly with printers where you can insert your card (everyone receives a card with a Holocaust victim) and print a bio. I didn't notice it at first but there is also a screen there. After some delay, a video began to play. I think it is timed to coincide with the end of the song/prayer. This video was intended to sum up the exhibit as its focus was liberation of the camps. The problem is that many of the people had already left, not realizing there was one more video. They left on a note of horror, despair, and hopelessness. For me, this video was paramount. Since the exhibit functions chronologically, it was a necessary element to follow the nightmare of the camps. Simply put, the story needed an ending. Obviously, everyone knows how the story ended but it seemed necessary for the emotional narrative of the exhibit. It was clear that the video was intended to be a conclusion especially since there was a "callback" device utilized. Earlier in the exhibit, the narrator emphatically used a term--ordinary people, to refer to the ordinary people of Germany that didn't act. At this final closing, the narrator used the same term--ordinary people, to refer to the soldiers (Soviet, American, British) that liberated the camps. It was a conscious callback that explored the latitude of humanity. For me, that device was so powerful that it took my breath away. As that word was spoken, I was absolutely overcome with emotion, different from what I felt inside the exhibit. I looked at my boyfriend and judging by his expression, I knew that he felt the same. To know that others missed this crucial endpoint genuinely upset me. This felt like a flaw in the exhibit design, one that had felt so meticulous and carefully arranged. One that I really appreciated. I was initially dreading this visit as I hate reading labels and reading labels about the Holocaust seemed particularly daunting. I liked that it was scripted and heavy on the videos. I think that if you're going to script the whole thing, you have to make sure you carefully script the ending, ensuring that people don't miss it. Aside from this issue, I thought the timing could have been better arranged. We had a small group at the start but towards the end, it was a large crowd of people. I think the videos got longer so people caught up. Not a huge deal but it was a bit annoying. Probably made worse by the fact that one of those people was a woman who kept talking during the most horrifying section: videos and stories from the camps. Everyone was motionless, shocked by the content and here she was yapping away. I mean, how rude do you have to be!? I don't intend to nitpick or be overly critical. I'm just a museum studies major that can't help analyzing the exhibit design. I still highly recommend seeing this exhibit. Just make sure you catch the final video.

It's a travesty that something like this occurred in this world. Makes me sick to my stomach that people actually went along with Hitlers demented sick twisted ideas and beliefs. If you happen to be in Los Angeles definitely a museum to check out. Que tristesa!

The experience of the Holocaust is difficult to express to most people is incomprehensible. This museum successfully shared that in a visual way that is digestible to visitors. I was impressed with how they did it

I've wanted to come here forever. Got there when it opened at 10 am and was shocked that we were there for four hours that went so quickly. You learn a lot here and so many interesting things. There are employees at every corner and they are super friendly and always want to know if you need help or to give you some additional information. Very sad but very informative. It was a very nice time.

Visiting the museum was so emotional. There's so much to see and read about. The exhibits are very well put together. Took my 11 year old and she loved every bit of it.

Parking is free (Underground structure), security checks your trunk. Tickets are$15.50 or $11.50 with a student ID, we did the 2 for $17.50 on groupon. Each ticket will allow you to enter either the Main Museum or the Anne Frank museum. We chose the main one. When you enter the museum ask the workers where the museum STARTS, as it could be a little confusing finding the starting point. From there you will enter through double doors with a large group where you will stop at each station. Each station is a timeline of events, where there will be an automated narrator guiding you through each scene. I really enjoyed the walk through rather than a self guided tour, it really painted a picture of life in Germany during that time. The whole tour should last about an hour. If you go to the second floor, there will be an Anne Frank museum. The third floor is an exhibit and a self guided short walk through on Ellis island / immigration. The fourth floor is a cafe and gift shop.

Confession: I visited the Museum of Tolerance with my wife years ago, but my review draft just sat here, untouched and unposted. I'm not sure why this happened, but I do remember our visit like it was yesterday, from security checking everyone's cars for bombs to the gut-wrenching displays of anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia, and sexism. Scenes from the Holocaust dominate the museum, but there are also exhibits on other genocides throughout history. It's mind-boggling how humanity can be so utterly evil at times. We were fortunate to be here when a Holocaust survivor spoke; I've forgotten her name, but not the story of how she was a little girl and saw her parents, family members, and friends taken away to the one of the concentration camps. Somehow she made it out alive, but I couldn't help but thinking about how much she lost. This is an absolute must-visit, especially during these times of increased xenophobic, hateful rhetoric from our so-called leaders. Highly recommended.

This museum is so booorrriiinng!!!!, I had an experience with my group and yet all we'll did was sit down and watch and learn from it and there's a lot of talking and yet I got a headache and I was so tired after I went to the bus before we get head back to school!!! I don't like this!!!!

Its been years since I've visited the museum, yet from what I recall its a grand place. The most memorable moment is me holding back tears when I think of what some had to endure for our freedoms today.

I attended a 2 day program for educators, where lunch and the materials were included. The program itself was intense, yet a safe environment for participants to be challenged and engage in meaningful discussions to examine social issues of the past and present. We examined the events leading up and during the Holocaust. It is important to understand the power of the language and how it can affect others at different levels, ranging from an individual to a society. We also uncover any biases that we may carry ourselves and learn the tools necessary to foster a positive classroom environment for our students to learn in. It was an eye opening experience, and I would love to visit the museum, at the very least, on a yearly basis (since I live far away).

Go on a weekday. There weren't any school groups so it was fairly empty. This was my First time here. If you leave here with a dry eye there is somethihng wrong with you. People who say the holocost wasn't real are just ignorant. My view of the museum. The Anne Frank Exhibit is worth the extra $. Its a place for meditation and respect and some museum goers were a bit on the rowdy side in our group of people viewing Anne Frank. Think of this as going to temple or if you are christian to church. Its not a place to allow kids to run around. Its not a joke and should be taken seriously. At the end of the tour there was a lady who is a holocost survivor. She told us of her life experience living in the jewish ghetto and surviving a concentration camp. She is truely a survivor! Her life experience was very touching . It is a museum that will stir your emotions.

Absolute horrible planning organization we waited 1 whole hour just to get in and font get me started on how outdated it is don't recommend save your time and money

This is my 3rd time exploring this museum and my first time as an adult. It is a great museum and a must for anyone who lives within the LA region. Easy and free underground parking below the museum. I purchased tickets online ahead of time for myself and my kids (soon to be 12 & 14yo). Give yourself lots of time to fully explore and appreciate the exhibits. There's lots of reading and listening and watching. We were there for 3 hours and fully experienced 2 of the 3 main exhibits: Anne Frank and The Holocaust. This is not a museum you want to speed through. It's setup in a way that forces you to slow down and truly think about the information being presented. The employees/docents are helpful and eager to show you "where to next" to keep you on the right path through each exhibit and answer any curious questions you might have. From our check-in at the front desk and throughout the museum, everyone was wonderful and inviting.

Very eye-opening experience that I highly recommend. The Holocaust Survival testimonials offered throughout the day is a must visit. It helps to understand the world lived in back then during these atrocities and how it plagues us once more . The Mot also features a walkthrough tour on the lower level -start with the main one as it runs about 75 mins.

What an exceptional, educational, thought provoking, interactive experience at the MOT. One man's hatred towards the Jews costed many millions of innocent lives and years of unforgettable scars to generations. MOT is a small museum but did a fabulous job of providing visitors a glimpse of the past. Arrived at 2pm. and immediately went to the holocaust survivor speaker series (they have 3 sessions through out the day). The speaker that day was Gregory McKay. He is a great story teller and recounted his parent's survival story along with him when he was still a toddler which was a combination of being a risk taker and having luck through out the escape journey. This lasted a little more than an hour. Then made way to the main Holocaust exhibit which the interactive section closes at 3:30pm. You will receive a passport card that showcases one child and learn about his/her background. You take the card with you and pass through a serious of events learning how the holocaust took shape. At the end of the exhibit, you will find out what happen to the child on your passport card. There's also a rare 4-page letter signed by Adolf Hitler (dated Sept 16, 1919) on permanent display at the entrance of the Holocaust exhibit you don't want to miss. This exhibit took about 1.5 hours. Next is the Anne Frank exhibit. Another well done exhibit that chronicle Anne's journey taken from her diary. Excerpts from her diary is translated into series of displays and led you into the "Secret Annex" where she hid inside with her family from the raids. Also on display is Anne's handwritten diary pages on loan from Anne Frank House. I read her book and going to Anne Frank House in Amsterdam has been on my list to go for a long time. MOT's scaled down version did not disappoint. This took about 1-1.5 hours. There's a small Salvador Dali exhibit on site which happened to be one of my favorite artists but sadly I didn't have time to see. I was the last one out the museum which the place seems so eerie and quiet. Points to take: 1) Cost for both the main Holocaust exhibit and Anne Frank exhibit is $31. Totally worth it, do both. 2) Allow at least 4-6 hours to leisurely explore MOT although it's not a big museum but there is so much to see and you'd want to attend one of the survivor speaker sessions. 3) Free Parking 4) MOT offers audio guide but I didn't remember to get one. For both interactive exhibits I didn't find that I need one. It is humbling to learn more about this horrific past in details and the recent Thai cave rescue has given me hopes that there is still humanity. I wish for love and peace.

This review is NOT for the Museum itself, and its fantastic exhibits, programs, and fight against all things evil. It truly is a gem of peace and remembrance. THIS REVIEW is for the complete lack of communication from the Museum's Education Department to return phone calls and emails to schedule school field trips. These programs for students are great, but are very pricey. I secured funding from my district to take over 40 kids to the museum ($5000 with bus costs), but due to the complete LACK OF COMMUNICATION (over 4 weeks of phone tag and ZERO responses to emails) I lost my funding! Now, 40+ low-income students of color will not get the benefit of the MOT, which could have provided a life-changing experience for them with ONE phone call!

I've wanted to come visit here ever since I saw it in the movie "The Freedom Writers" years ago! My friend and I arrived just before 3 and the museum closes at 5. We saw a holocaust survivor, Jack, speak first. He was very well spoken and had a good story of being a child born during the Holocaust- very moving. After that, we saw a bit of some of "The World Today" but since it was already after 4 by this point, a worker asked us if we had seen the Holocaust exhibit yet since the museum wasn't open much longer. We had not so she dwelled is over and we joined the last group a bit late. Someone gave us the brief synopsis of the first two rooms we missed and then we joined in the last tour. It was very informative and interesting but of course very sad. They did a very good job with the exhibit. I was impressed to find out that the card of the girl I had survived and is a speaker at the museum! I liked that part a lot too. My recommendation would be to give yourself a few hours here - especially if you plan on seeing a speaker (they had one at 12, 1 and 3 today) since that will take at least an hour of your time. I'd come back since I missed a bit of the museum and to listen to a different survivor's story. Very good museum that everyone should go to, especially in today's climate. We can all learn to love and accept a bit more. Very-eye opening.

Came here on Christmas Eve and used a Groupon for admission. I'm not sure if the Groupon included the Anne Frank exhibit but when I looked down at my receipt, I had a ticket for it. So yay for getting the Anne Frank exhibit as an added bonus!!! (I believe it's usually an additional $15 on top of museum admission.) Parking is FREE and underground. Didn't have any issue and no search of the car, as previous reviews stated. The Anne Frank exhibit was incredible and I really enjoyed the museum and the layout of all the exhibits. There are some really emotional and knowledgeable clips of the time during the holocaust. Make sure to give yourself at least 3 hours (including the AF exhibit) to see everything. Probably 5 hours for everything if you're like me and read every placard and view every clip.

Please please please be more organized when it comes to the speakers, or at least warn that it can run longer than one hour. We made reservations on a Sunday morning for 2:24pm (at the recommendation of the person on the phone, she said it's more than enough time to see a speaker and the other areas because you have 1 hour in the theater and 1.5 hours in the museum) and spent our only 2 hours at the museum in the lecture hall. The speaker was amazing, enlightening, endearing and it was an emotional experience, but we were told that it was an hour and it lasted an hour and 45 minutes, leaving 15 minutes until the museum closed. We didn't get to see anything else, because everything was closed off. No one from the museum was in the theater, or stopped in at all to give time updates, and the speaker had no inkling of what time it was. A lot of us in the lecture hall came around the same time and were lucky to hear the speaker, but at the same time did not have the chance to experience anything else. Most of us left frustrated and were told as we approached closed off sections that we should just "come back." A couple from out of state were very visibly upset, as were we merely because of the negligence of the staff not keeping things on time / not warning that if we book our visit around 2pm we should not see a speaker if we want to experience the whole of the museum.

The content of this museum is a must see for all humans. The customer service is not the best and the security personnel are too nervous to the point of being rude. I do understand why but it's Museum of Tolerance not airport.

I spent MLK Day 2018 with my ethnically mixed teenage daughter at the Museum of Tolerance. I'm a news junky and I have a short fuse regarding injustice, intolerance and untruths. If I had any say in writing a high school or an undergraduate curriculum, spending one morning at this museum would be mandatory! We are living history. The Museum of Tolerance is really quite something. It's both timeless and timely! And a special note to recognize the diversity that the MOT has brought together!!

This is an amazing museum with a wonderful purpose. Far exceeded my expectations. My only wish is they pushed the envelope a little further - its good that they talk about "modern times" but there doesn't seem to be anything after 2005 displayed except for a few news pieces.

It was my first time going to the museum. I purchased my tickets (2for1) on Groupon , a bargain! Parking was free as well. (Security checked my trunk) /arrived 12:30pm . There was not an overcrowd of people , decent amount on a Sunday. We went through the exhibits pretty quickly if you skim read /didn't do the tour. We saw the guest speaker Ms.Mann , courageous story to be heard and shared. There was a cafeteria if you're hungry (felt bad that there was only one man working when the lunch time rush came in) . Employees were kind too!

My first time at the Museum of Tolerance was for a field trip back in elementary school. At that time, I was too young to appreciate the museum for what its worth. For the past year, I've been antsy to come back to see the Holocaust exhibit. I found a 2 for 1 Groupon online and immediately bought it! *FYI reservations required!! Once you obtain the ticket through front desk and walk through a metal detector, everyone needs to wait around for an "orientation" which basically covers which exhibits are where and the recommendation to start at the Holocaust exhibit. The Holocaust exhibit (1 hour 15 minutes) is a sound and light guided tour for about 30 people per group. At each "station" you learn something different about what happened - visuals included. Great place to bring the family. By far my favorite exhibit throughout the entire museum. Anne Frank exhibit is available for an additional cost. Free underground parking lot available. Be prepared - the guard will check the drivers ID and the back of the car trunk. You can bring your own water.

I went there in a winter break and I was quite disappointed. I went in an hour before closing and many facilities were already closed. We also missed the survivors' story telling on weekend. They showed us mostly videos and there wasn't much to experience. I thought they would reveal more in the camps.